Folding camp-berth



W. F. MOUDY.

FOLDING CAMP BBRTH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I2. I9I9. 1,346,043. v Patented July 6, 1920.

/I/)LL/AM //Waoox/ MJ, l By M A TTOR/VEIS W. F. MOODY.

FOLDING CAMP BERTH.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 12, 1919.

'Patented July 6, 1920. /Z 2 SHEETS*SHEET 2 WIM/8858 Arron/m8 UNITED STATES lATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. MOODY, 0F DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TENTH TO JOHN P. MOODY, OE DENVER, COLORADO.

FOLDING CAMP-BERTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Application led November 12. 1919. Serial No. 337.391.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be itknown that l, vVrLLrAM F. MOODY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Folding Camp-Berth, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact de scription.

This invention relates to improvements in folding camp berths, an object of the invention being to provide a knock-down structure which can be packed in relatively small space and which can be quickly assembled to form a portable double-deck berth providing four cots or beds in a single unit and which is capable of assemblage of units in any desired number so as to accommodate any desired number of persons.

`With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing one of the frames in a folded position;

Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the frames with the stretcher omitted;

Fig. 4 is an end view in elevation of a complete berth unit;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the frame shown in Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one ofthe double stretchers j Fig. 7 is a view inV section onthe line 7 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the sliding sleeve A;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the assembled double berth unit; and

F ig. 10 is a view in elevation of a modified form of frame.

In describingmy improved berth I shall hereinafter describe a complete double berth unit which forms four berths, and it is, of course, to be understood that this unit may be multiplied to any desired number by the addition of'other similar units as will be readily apparent. f Y

1n forming my improved berth unit 1 employ three similar frames X, Y and Z spaced a distance apart and as these frames erably of two sheet metal sections securedV together by rivets 3 and having at one end perforated lugs 4 projecting at right angles from the sleeve and located in different vertical planes, as indicated clearly in Fig. 8.,

The other end of the sleeve A is provided with two pairs of laterally projecting perforated lugs 5 also shown in Fig. 8.

The upper end of the post 1 is provided with laterally projecting perforated lugs 6 and the lower end of the post is provided with laterally projecting lugs 7, the lugs 6 and 7 being preferably integral with plates 8 and 9 respectively secured to the sides of the post 1. Bars 10 are pivotally connected to the perforated lugs 7 and bars 11 are pivotally connected to the perforated lugs 4. These bars 10 and 11 are crossed and connected by a pivot 12 so that they form, in effect, toggle levers, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. A

Bars 13 are pivotallyV connected to the perforated lugs 5 and links 14 pivotally connect the intermediate portions of the bars 13 with the perforated lugs G. The bars 10 and 13 at their free ends have metal socket members 15 secured thereto and laterally offset pockets 16 are formed on the sides of the sleeve A adjacent its lower end. The upper end of the post 1 is recessed at opposite sides forming pockets 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

ln connection witha unit of my improved berth construction I em )loy a pair of stretchers 1S preferably o canvas or other similar material and strengthened by longitudinal bars 19 located at the center and at the edges of the stretchers. These bars 19 are confined within strips 20 secured to the stretchers by lines of stitching or other suitable means and a sheet 21 is secured to one end of the stretcher and is adapted to receive thereunder any suitable material to forma pillow. The stretcher 18 is made with a central opening 22 and recesses 23 in its side edges to accommodate the intermediate frame Y.

' rlhe bars 19 at their ends are formed with downwardly projecting tongues 24 which are adapted to engage in the pockets 16, socket members l5, and pockets 17. In

other words, theV end bars i9 have their members so that the stretchers can be Vre- SOv moved and replaced/as desired, and it is also to bey understood that the lower stretcher 18 is to be positioned'on the frames Vwhile the intermediate iframe is partially folded in Vorder to position the opening 22v around Vthe sleeve A of said intermediate frame. Y c

In operation the lower ends of the post 1 and the outer ends of the bars l1 constitute supports for the berth structure and all of the bars coperate to sustain the weight on the lstretchers and prevent tilting or upsetting movement regardless of how this wei ht is disposed.

v hen the berth is not desired for use the stretchers 18 are removed andthe frames are folded,ras indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. To accomplish this folding action it is necessary to slide the sleeve A on the post 1 which causes the several bars and links to fold toward the post, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. ByV reason of the arrangement of perforated lugs 4, 5, 6 and 7,'the bars 10 and 13 are located in alinement with the post 1, while the bars 11 are positioned at the sides of the bars 10 so that the folded device will occupy but relatively small space.

In Fig. 10, I illustrate a modiiied form of frame in which the bars 25, corresponding to the bars 11 in the preferred form, are made in two sections and connected by angle plates 26 pivotally connected to the bars 10, as shown at 27. These angle plates 26 permit the 'bars 10 and 25 to be positioned in alinement when the :trame is iolded. ln other respects the frame is similar to the preferred form and similar reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

Toassembleadouble berth unit, the lower stretcher 18 is first positioned with its opening 22 receiving the sleeve A before thel in- Y termediate frame is unfolded. Aftery the lower stretcher is in place on theintermediate frame, the three frames X, Y and Z can be extended to the position shown in Fig. 4, byV simply sliding the sleeve A downward. It is thensimplynecessary to locate the tongues 24 in their proper coupling relatonto the frames when the device is completely assembled and ready for use.

As above stated, Ido not wish to be limvention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider my self at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within'the spiritY` and scope of the appendedclaims. j

1. A device of the character stated, com prising collapsible frames, each frame consisting of a central post, a pair of supporting devices at eachside of the post, said supporting devices connected at their lower ends to the post, a second pair of supporting devices at the upper portion ofthe post connected to the upper end of the'post, and a sliding sleeve on the post connected to both pairs of supporting devices.

2. A device of the character stated, comprising collapsible frames, each frame Aconsisting of a central post, a pair of supporting devices at each side of thevpost, said supporting devices connected at their lower ends to the post, a second pair of supporting devices at the upper portion of the post connected to the lupper end of the post, a sliding sleeve on the post yconnected to both` pairs of supporting devices, and said sleeve and supporting devices constructed for the attachment thereto of stretchers. Y

3. A device of the characterstated, comprising collapsible frames, each frame consistingv of' a central post, a pair of supporting devices at each side of the post, said supporting devices connected at their lower ends to the post, a second pair of supporting devices at the upper portion. of the post con* nected to the upper end ofthe post, a sliding sleeve onthe post connected to bothpairs of supporting devices, stretchers, longitudinal bars supporting the stretchers, and coupling means tbetween said bars, said post, said sleeve and said supporting devices, whereby the stretchers are extended laterally to both sides of the post and form a pair of beds at both sides of the post.

4. A device of the character stated, comprising collapsible frameaeach frame consisting of a central post, a sliding sleeve on the post, crossed bars, a pair of said crossed bars connected to the lower end of the post, another pair of saidA crossed bars connected to the sleeves, Vupper bars pivotally connected to the sleeves, links pivotally connecting the lastmentioned bars with the upper ends of the post, and stretchers supported onvsaid bars. l Y Y Y H 5; A device ofthe character stated, comprisingV frames, each frame consisting of a central post, a sleeve mounted to slide on the post and having pockets at its sides, collapsible trarne bars connected to the post and to the sleeve, certain of said bars having sockets therein, stretchers, bars connected to the stretchers, and tongues on the bars adapted to be positioned in said pockets and sockets.

6. A stretcher, comprising frames, each frame consisting of a central post, lugs at the ends of the posts, a sliding sleeve on the intermediate portion of the post, lugs on the ends of the sleeve, a pair of crossed bars pivotally connected and located at each side of the lower portion of the post, said bars pivote-ily connected to the lower lugs on the post and the lower lugs on the Sleeve, another pair of bars pivotally connected to the upper lugs on the sleeve, links connecting the last-mentioned bars with the upper lugs on the post, and stretchers adapted to be removably connected to the frames.

WILLIAM F. MOODY. 

